Strip metal deforming apparatus



Ma'y 20, 1969 w. 'r. SAUNDERS 3,444,7 7

STRIP METAL DEFORMING APPARATUS Filed April 18. 1967 FIG] 26 WILLIAM T. SAUNDERS ATTORNEY-Y United States Patent 3,444,717 STRIP METAL DEFORMING APPARATUS William T. Saunders, Weirton, W. Va., assignor to National Steel Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 18, 1967, Ser. No. 631,808 Int. Cl. B21d 19/04, 39/02 U.S. CI. 72-177 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Strip metal deforming apparatus in Which one edge portion of flat strip is progressively deformed over an edge, further deformed in a direction toward the remaining body of the strip, and pressed tightly against the remaining body of the strip, is particularly useful in prefolding container strip edging having coated surfaces and at least one uncoated slit edge, so that the uncoated edge is protected by a coated surface from attack by contents of the container.

This invention relates to metal deforming, and more particularly to strip metal deforming apparatus.

Containers fabricated from structurally weak, nonmetallic materials, such as paperboard and like fibrous materials, are conventionally provided with a narrow metal edging strip to strengthen and protect the container edges against damage. A typical example of such containers are the pasteboard containers used in the bulk packaging ice cream, which are provided with a narrow edging slIip of tinplated steel.

The tinplate used in the manufacture of such strip edging is produced in coils of relatively great width. These coils are slit longitudinally into a multiplicity of narrow strips, which are then deformed into a hook shape to fit over the peripheral edges of the container walls.

Since the steel is tinplated prior to slitting, all of the narrow strips have two broad surfaces which are coated with tin, but most of the narrow strips have two slit and therefore uncoated edges. Strips cut from the edges of the coil may have one edge coated and one edge uncoated. However, if the edges of the coil have been previously slit for edge trimming or other purpose after tinplating, the strips cut from the edges of the coil will also have two uncoated edges.

A serious problem often arises when tinplated container edging strip has an uncoated edge inside the container, since the ferrous metal base of the tinplate may be attacked by the contents of the container and corrode, the corrosion products damaging the appearance of the container and contaminating its contents.

It has been found that prefolding container strip edging so that the uncoated edge which is to be disposed inside the container is behind the remaining body of the strip overcomes the problem of corrosion of the uncoated edge.

Accordingly, a main object of the invention is the provision of strip metal deforming apparatus which is of particular utility in prefolding metallic strip edging for containers.

Other objects of the invention, its features and advantages will appear from the following detailed description which, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment of the invention for purposes of illustration only and not for determination of the limits of the invention. For defining the scope of the invention, reference will be made to the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:

FIGURE 1 shows the general arrangement of apparatus forming a preferred embodiment of the invention;

3,444,717 Patented May 20, 1969 FIGURE 2, consisting of FIGURES 2a, 2b, and 2c depicts the cross-sectional configuration of strip form in successive stations of the apparatus of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view of the first station taken on line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom perspective view showing details of elements of the station of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a view of the second station taken on line '55 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG- URE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view of the third station taken on line 7-fl of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view showing a non-metallic container provided with metal strip edging prefolded in the apparatus of FIGURE 1.

Referring to FIGURE 1 in greater detail, container edging metal strip 12 is removed from a coil 13 on payoff reel 14 and passed under a bridle roll 16. The strip 12 then passes successively through a first deforming station 1 8, second deforming station 20 and a third deforming or pressing station 22. Upon emerging from pressing station 22, the strip passes through pinch rolls 2'4 and is recoiled on a take-up reel 26, which draws the strip under tension through the deforming apparatus.

In FIGURE 2a, strip 12 is shown as it emerges from station 18 with one edge portion 28 being deformed or folded relative to the remaining body of the strip. The uncoated edge of strip 12 which is to be disposed inside a container is indicated at 29. FIGURE 2b depicts the configuration of the strip as it emerges from station 20, deformed edge portion 28 having been curled into overlapping relationship with the remaining body of the strip. FIGURE 20 illustrates the shape of the strip 12 as it emerges from pressing station 22. Curled edge portion 28 has been pressed tightly against the underside of the remaining body 30 of the strip 12.

As can be seen from FIGURES 1 and 3, station 18 comprises an elongated base member 32 having a planar surface 34 having an edge 36. A guide member 38 in the form of an upstanding projection on base member 32 has a strip-guiding side surface 40 which is spaced across surface 34 from edge 36 and extends generally parallel to edge 36 along the length of base member 32.

A confining member 42 is secured to base member 32 by bolts 44 and '46. Confining member 42 has a planar surface 48 which is disposed generally parallel to and in opposed, closely spaced relationship with surface 34 of the base member and extends past guide surface 40 to overlie guide member 38.

Deforming means in the form of a deforming member generally indicated at 50 are provided for deforming edge portion 28 of strip 12-over the edge 36 into relatively steep angular disposition relative to the remaining body of the strip. Edge portion 28 is preferably deformed into generally perpendicular relationship with the remaining body 30 of the strip, as shown in FIGURE 2a. Deforming member 50 is secured to confining member 42 and is spaced from edge 36 on the opposite side of edge 36 from guide surface 40.

In FIGURE 4, deforming member 50 can be seen to be elongated and have a planar surface 52 and a planar surface 54 which intersect to form an edge 56. Surface 52 is perpendicular to surface 48, and surface 54 is perpendicular to surface 52. The plane of surface 52 and the plane of surface 54 intersect the plane of surface 48 at common location 58. Edge 56 extends from common location 58 in the direction of strip travel (indicated by arrow 60) downwardly away from the surface 48 of con fining member 42 and toward base member 32. As is best seen from FIGURE 3, edge 56 terminates at a location 3 spaced below edge 36, in a direction generally normal to surface 48 of member 42.

Confining member 42 is provided with a guide member 62 in the form of an extension of confining member 42 beyond common location 58. Guide member 62 has a planar guide surface 64 which opposes guide surface 40. Planar surface 64 of guide member 62 extends in generally parallel, spaced relationship relative to edge 36 longitudinally from common location 58 in a direction opposite to the direction of strip travel.

Flat strip entering station 18 rides over surface 34 and between guide surfaces 40 and 64, confined fro-m above by surface 48. At common location 58, edge 56 engages edge portion 28 of the strip and deforms the edge portion progressively until the edge portion extends generally perpendicular relative to the remaining body 30 of the strip. The distance between surface and surface 52 is fixed, so that remaining body 30 will be of constant width irrespective of any variation in the width of incoming strip.

After emerging from station 18, strip 12 passes to station 20, which in FIGURES 5 and 6, is shown to include a holding member 66 having a planar surface 68 having an edge 70. A guide member 72 in the form of an upstanding projection on holding member 66 has a side guide surface 74 spaced across surface 68 from edge 70. Surface 74 extends generally parallel to edge 70. A backing member 76 includes a planar surface 78 which is disposed generally parallel to and in opposed, closely spaced relationship with the surface 68. Surface 78 extends past guide surface 74 to overlie guide member 72.

Means in the form of a roll 80, which is rotatable about an axis extending generally perpendicularly relative to surface 78, are provided for deforming strip 12 into the configuration shown in FIGURE 2b. Roll 80 includes recessed edge portion 84 which deforms edge portion 28 in a direction toward the remaining body of the strip, curling edge portion 28 into overlapping relationship with the ermaining body of the strip. Roll 80 is spaced from edge of surface 68, and is journaled in support member 86. Backing member 76 takes the form of a disc which is rotatable about an axis coincident with the axis of roll 80, and is secured to roll by means of a bolt '88. Spacer is provided to maintain proper distance between backing member 76 and the recessed edge portion 84 of roll 80'.

After emerging from station 20, the strip passes to pressing station 22 in which the edge portion 28 of the strip is pressed tightly against the remaining body of the strip. In FIGURE 7, pressing station 22 can be seen to include a pair of upstanding, spaced-apart frame members 92 and 94. Upper and lower work rolls 96, 98 are rotatably carried by and extend between frame members 92 and 94. Rolls 96 and 98 are rotated about mutually parallel, horizontal axes by the friction force of strip being drawn therebetvveen. The cylindrical working surfaces of the rolls press the curled edge portion 28 of the strip into the configuration shown in FIGURE 20. Screwdowns 100 are secured in upper roll chocks 102 for adjusting the roll spacing in the conventional manner.

Referring now to FIGURE 8, container edging strip prefolded in apparatus according to the invention is shown in position on a hollow, non-metallic container having side walls 104.

The container may be of cylindrical, square or other cross-sectional configuration, and may be of fiberboard, pasteboard, cardboard, or other non-metallic material. Strip prefolded in apparatus according to the invention is deformed in the conventional manner so as to have a generally hook-shaped configuration, with the bight 106 of the hook fitted over the upper peripheral edge of the container wall 104. In position, the edging strip has an outer portion 108 disposed on the outside of the container, and an inner position 110 disposed on the inside of the container. Since edge portion 28 has been prefolded under the remaining body of the strip, and the strip doubled over itself to form a hook, uncoated edge 29 is disposed between the container wall 104 and the inner portion 110 of the metal edging. Uncoated edge 29 is thus protected from the contents of the container by the inner portion 110 of the metal edging, so the contents of the container will not be contaminated and the appearance of the container will not be spoiled by corrosion of the ferrous base metal of the tinplate from attack by the container contents.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that resort can be had to modifications of the embodiment illustrated without departing from the spirit of the invention. Such modifications are considered to be within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Strip metal deforming apparatus, comprising a first station including a base member having a planar surface having an edge,

a guide member associated with the base member, and

having a guide surface spaced across the planar surface of the base member from the edge thereof, and extending generally parallel to said edge,

a confining member having a planar surface disposed generally parallel to and in opposed, closely spaced relationship with the planar surface of the base member and extending to a location adjacent the guide surface of the guide member,

first deforming means associated with the confining member for deforming one edge portion of the strip over the edge of the planar surface of the base member,

a second station including second deforming means for further deforming said one edge portion of the strip in a direction toward the remaining body of the strip, and

a third station including means for pressing said one edge portion of the strip tightly against the remaining body of the strip.

2. Strip metal deforming apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the first deforming means include an elongated deforming member having a first planar surface and second planar surface which intersect to form a strip-engaging edge,

the first planar surface and the second planar surface intersecting the planar surface of the confining member at a common location,

the strip-engaging edge of the deforming member extending from the common location in the direction of strip travel, away from the planar surface of the confining member, and toward the base member, to a location spaced from the edge of the planar surface of the base member in a direction generally normal to the planar surface of the confining member.

3. Strip metal deforming apparatus as defined in claim 2, and further comprising a second guide member, associated with the confining member and having a planar guide surface opposing the guide surface of the first-named guide member,

the guide surface of the second guide member extending in generally parallel, spaced relationship relative to the edge of the planar surface of the base member longitudinally from said common location in a direction opposite to the direction of strip travel.

4, Strip metal deforming apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the second deforming means include a holding member having a planar surface having an edge,

a third guide member, associated with the holding member and having a guide surface spaced across the planar surface of the holding member from the edge thereof, and extending generally parallel to said edge,

a backing member having a planar surface disposed generally parallel to and in opposed, closely spaced relationship with the planar surface of the holding member and extending to a location adjacent the guide surface of the third guide member,

roll means spaced from the edge of the planar surface of the holding member and rotatable about an axis extending generally prependicularly relative to the planar surface of the backing member, for further deforming said one edge portion of the strip in a direction toward the remaining body of the strip.

5. Strip metal deforming apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the backing member comprises a disc rotatable about an axis coincident with the axis of the roll means.

6. Strip metal deforming apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the pressing means include a pair of spaced-apart frame members, and

first and second work roll means rotatably carried by and extending between the frame members and having mutually parallel horizontal axes and cylindrical Working surfaces, for pressing said one edge portion 6 of the strip tightly against the remaining body of the strip.

7. Strip metal deforming apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the first deforming means constitutes means for deforming said one edge portion of the strip into generally perpendicular relationship with the remaining body of the strip, and wherein the second deforming means constitutes means for curling the deformed edge portion of the strip into overlapping relationship with the remaining body of the strip.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,420,064 5/1947 Boddy 72177 X 2,950,697 8/1960 Flagler 11354 3,111,156 11/1963 Winberg 72--176 3,266,281 8/1966 Fust 72177 MILTON S. MEHR, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 113-54 

